Cameron Wake’s remarkable rise took another substantial leap Tuesday when he was named to his first Pro Bowl.

And best of all, it will be held on Jan. 30, the outside linebacker’s 29th birthday.

“Best birthday present I’ve ever gotten,” Wake said on a conference call with South Florida writers.

Wake, who leads the NFL with 14 sacks entering the season’s final weekend, is one of two Miami Dolphins selected to start for the AFC. Left tackle Jake Long, picked for the third time in as many pro seasons, is the other.

Wake said he will make good on Channing Crowder’s demand that he take him along to Hawaii. It was Crowder who kept telling Wake during the preseason that he was going to have a Pro Bowl year, joking with his fellow linebacker that if it indeed happened all he would need was a “ticket and a room.”

Around dinner time Tuesday, Crowder texted Wake to see if he was free for dinner. The two couldn’t hook up, but in about a month they should be spending plenty of quality time together.

“I wouldn’t doubt that’s something I would do,” Wake said. ”He’s been in my corner from early on, helping me from the moment I got here. Without a doubt, he’s a guy you love having in your corner. … I’m sure we’ll talk later, trying to get all the details worked out.”

Wake, a former two-time Canadian Football League Defensive Player of the Year, contributed 5.5 sacks in a reserve role last season while playing behind veterans Jason Taylor and Joey Porter.

Taylor is the only Dolphins defender to lead the league in sacks since it became an official statistic in 1982. That came in 2002, when Taylor tied Bill Stanfill’s unofficial franchise mark with 18 1/2 sacks.

Since reaching his current total with a two-sack game on Dec. 12 at the Jets, Wake has been shut out in home games against the lightly regarded Bills and Lions. He leads Falcons defensive end John Abraham by one sack, with three others (Jason Babin, Clay Matthews and DeMarcus Ware) at 12.5 sacks.

Abraham closes with a home game against the 2-13 Panthers. He had two sacks against them in the first meeting between the teams.

Wake had one sack in the Dolphins’ first meeting with New England, which ranks seventh in the league in fewest sacks allowed per pass play.

Long, meanwhile, suffered a sprained left knee in the final preseason game in Dallas and dislocated his left shoulder in the Nov. 14 game against the Titans. Despite those setbacks, the former No. 1 overall pick is expected to make his 48th consecutive regular-season start Sunday.

“That’s definitely a point of pride of mine,” Long said. “I hate missing game time and missing practice and not being out there with my team. I have had some nicks here and there. Luckily I’ve been able to play through it and help our team.”

It’s possible Long will have to skip this year’s Pro Bowl, which moves back to Honolulu after a one-year experimental stay in Miami, in order to have surgery on his knee and/or shoulder. Long, who pulled out of last year’s game due to injury, said he hoped to make the trip but would have to discuss it with team trainers, team doctors and his agents.

“I’m crossing my fingers I can hopefully play,” Long said. “It is important to me to play. It’s a tremendous honor to play in that game and a lot of fun to be out there. I definitely do want to play in that game if I can.”

Other Dolphins who merited consideration included linebacker Karlos Dansby and strong safety Yeremiah Bell, the team’s two leading tacklers by a wide margin, nose tackle Paul Soliai, defensive end Kendall Langford and punter Brandon Fields.

Dansby, a possible alternate choice, has never made the Pro Bowl in his standout seven-year career.

JMHO, Pre-FA !!!!! (my preferred order of player’s in the draft )
I don’t see a 1st rnd guarantee anywhere @ the OL position,
and I no-longer have a clue as to what the brass want’s there,
so I’m not going to even bother,(cuz they’ll likely fix that w’FA veterans)..

QB Luck, Newton, and shut-down CB PPeterson will be gone,
so
@ 16 or whatever it ends-up being, I like RB’s
Mark (Mr Everything) Ingram, or LaMichael (Speedy Gonzalez) James
or
after trading-down into the 20s,(while recouping a 2nd rndr),
I like RBs Kendall Hunter, or Mickel LeShoure, or QB Terrelle Pryor

Kaepernick in the 3rd (2nd if recouped) if we go RB in the 1st
(luv his intelligence, vision/pocket awareness, speed, toughness, AND
arm strength to go along w’incredible accuracy!!
Definately an NFL starter, while simotaneously bringing what PW was supposed to,(along w’40lbs & 6 plus inches)!!

If Henne ain’t the guy, I’ve had my fill of immobile QBs,
I want a guy that run’s a sub 4.6 w’shifty feet in the pocket
& an accurate strong arm!!
If Henne’s goin to be replaced, replace him w’an all-around athlete,
not an average @ everything Stanzi, or a slower than an OLineman Mallett!!

Pocket-type passer’s are a dying breed,
and none will ever be able to live up to Danny’s pocket expertise,
(therefore will never be given the benifit of a doubt) in the fans eye’s!!

Maybe a mobile, fleet-of-foot QB can light a fire in the fan’s of Miami
while establishing a different kind of excitement and his own style of standard’s??

There will be 4 or 5 rookie QB’s that can beat Henne out in training camp…no problem. Just look at the guys they subbed in for Buffalo, Detroit, and Green Bay. They are all better than Henne. The trifecta screwed the pooch. Time for Ross to save his franchise & convince me he cares about my team.

1. Long would be a straight up Idiot if he plays the Pro-Bowl!!!! That time needs to be used to rehab his shoulder!!!(Surgery) And his corner better not let him play that game!!!
2. Wake needs to be locked up for the next 4-5 years with a decent contract!!! He will be extremely unhappy and Hold-Out if he doesn’t get his contract extended and reconstructed with a big bonus!!! He even said, once he hits 12 sacks, he will ask for a better contract…
PAY THE MAN!!!!!!!

tim , it was no biggie , i just invited the northeast dolphin mob members for a ” i survived the blizzard of 2010 ” party along with some of the lady gym girls !! it was just a joke about all the snow we got and how i couldn’t post for 2 days because of this damn blizzard. We then went on to talk and joke about the party and the f’n snowstorm !!

cb……you haven’t been paying much attention……J.LONG #1 pick overall in 2008 (3 time pro bowler)……and J.JERRY A 3rd round rookie, raw but still learning…….that’s it……funny how those 2 are the 2 best linemen starting……..lol………what other HIGHER than 3rd round draft pick has been directed to the o-line?……..this regime focused on “D”…….but the 2 picks mentioned are PROOF, THE ONLY WAY YOU BUILD AN O-LINE IS THROUGH THE DRAFT…..(high round picks)…..i really am going to fast for you, huh?……lol.

13…. The Dolphins would be blessed if Mallet falls to them!!! Are you crazy??
But… Obviously Luck, Newton, and Mallet will be gone by 15…. And probably Locker will be gone also…. Which the top 3 above is on another level then Locker!!!! Noway to Locker!!!
But, I’d take Mallet in a heartbeat if he slips!!!!
But, I would bet my Condo Mallet is off the board by 15!!!

ts- I’ve been on this blog for 5 years preaching that you build the O-Line through the draft. You can make excuses that 2 guys is a rebuilt line when one is not starter material in September & the other has a hidden/useless injury from a dumb decision by an unqualified O-Line coach from the Northeast area? Get that idiot outta here & hire a real coach.

o tim…..sorry, just getting back to you…..i’m STILL trying to help educate cb on some fundamentals of football…..#1.) the offense will ONLY go as far as the o-line will allow……..#2.) IT ALL STARTS AND/OR ENDS IN THE TRENCHES…….#3.).without blocking, runners have no holes, and QB have no time…….OK, i’m back…….lol….o tim, my brother…..keep the faith, i know you will……we are not that far away from the playoffs…….fix the o-line and we are there…..lol.

TOP, you’re right. This regime has tried to put an OL together through the draft and FA but Smiley and Grove hurt them by not being able to stay on the field. They also spent more late round picks on OL than early rounds.

TS- Sounds like you are a broken record…maybe mentally deficient? Step away from the computer. Football is not rocket science and your trifecta is fired. Tuna quit & the dominoes fell. We need a coach that knows how to run a clock & a GM that does his homework rather than churn & burn. Nice knowing ya Tony! We can get Shula to pick better linemen than these goofs.

o tim……did you notice that HIGH draft picks on the o-line are the BEST?…..well, if you want QUALITY…..lol…….and i’m not concerned about cb……the silliness that comes out of some “so-called” fans, usually just makes me shake my head and laugh…..lol.

o tim…..(and anybody for that matter)……if you get the chance…..go back 2 pages to my 9:22pm comment…..i would have sent cb, but that goofball would’ve gotten lost…..lol……it’s a list of currently rostered players that have been brought in by the current regime…..seriously, there has been a lot of talent brought in by these guys in only 3 years……and it PROVES that they can evaluate talent…..lol.

Players are going to move up and down depending on the seniorbowl, combine, injuries, and other facters, I can only go by what is now and not in april but critque all you want on the players my friends and happy new yrs to all

I don’t see a “stud” G, unless one of the top T’s are projected @ NFL G??
Now iff the T’s are said to be NFL T stud’s,
then we could alway’s rekindle the VC to G fire!!

But like I said, I no-longer have a clue as to what the brass want’s @ OL!!
BP & TS were quoted sayin that DT was a “”GodSend”",
I guess the regime changed their relegion or something, IDUNNO!!

IF Henne’s ever goin to be succesfull, I’d suggest pass-blocker’s,
but I doubt that TS will ever evolve to the new era of football!!
If he doesn’t, we need serious run-blocker’s and a game-breaking RB!!

Ronnie, Ricky, and Patrick are all likely to be FAs
and don’t have much of a future anyway’s!!
The fastest I’ve ever seen Ronnie run is when he was trying to stop the pk 6 vs Clev or Buff ( when we’d have been better off allowing the score )..
I wish he’d hit the hole w’the aggression he displayed on that play,
but he alway’s has to get in his little jump-step BSanders impression upon receiving the handoff b/4 attacking the hole!!

GOTTA get a “stud” dynamic gamebreaking type RB somewhere in this draft!! JMHO!!

sean g……i won’t disagree with your thought process on trading down or with pouncey…..but i’m all for taking it even farther……i’m thinking the TOP 2 draft picks on the o-line……because one really good one and more “stop gap” mediocre one’s will not cut it……2 top picks gets you QUALITY….and miami NEEDS (not just wants) QUALITY on the o-line…..and i’m talking about BUILDING a o-line for YEARS to come brother.

The trenches mean everything my friend, Garner is coming back and we have to get Speed or we will never get 8 out of the box. I wil say this you got a plan and if that plan is suring up the Oline then I am all for it. Oline and speed. QB at somepoint.

Lifeboat, 2 feet of snow and 50-60 MPH winds are not flurries. Add to the fact that in NJ we have more vehicles and drivers in a condensed area than probably anywhere in the world, and you have problems.

I’m fine in my 4WD. It’s the nimrods who can’t drive and don’t have good snow vehicles who are the problem and there are millions of them. Not thousands, millions.

Our roads are busy 24/7. It’s rare that you see nobody on the road at anytime of a day.

o tim…..i can’t argue with your scenario……(IF) we get the 2 STUD O-linemen you opine, to hopefully help this o-line…..i’m serious bro, that unit NEEDS at least 2 STUDS if we want to have playoff aspirations.

I do not know what up with the 6th or 7th at this point I check a draft site and they had us with 6 picks and I traded back for a 2nd, Its a b!cth trying to figure out where we will be when the draft comes along. I will say this we need to get that 2nd back somehow.

Worst drivers I’ve ever come across come from NY and Florida. NYers don’t care, Floridians don’t pay attention. They’re too busy looking in the back seat to see if they brought everything they need to the beach. LOL

Top we should get a FA lineman and a RB to go with a draft of Olinemen, TE, QB and speed. There are some good KR/ speed guys coming out this yr so get them while there hot. QB is weak in this draft and the best ones will be gone by the time we pick so trading back might be the best option.

Pouncey can play either C/G and will be there late in the 1st IMO (though he may blow the top of the combine and go early.

Top…. I think you forgot Vernon Carey….
A 1st rounder…. Along with Long, a 1st rounder (well, 1st overall)
and Jerry in 3rd….
And I like the size of Mallet…. What is he??
6′6″, 6′7″….
And 13…I’d take accuracy over mobile anyday!!! Mobile QBs aren’t taking over the NFL…Who??? Vick is an exception….
Look at the top 4-5 QBs in the league!!!
Brady, Brees, Manning, Rivers…..
These guys aren’t MOBILE QBS!!!
Yes…all the good ones have “pocket awareness”…. move up in the pocket, a step to the left, right…. But their not mobile QBs!!
And I’d take any of those guys anyday!!!

sean g……one thing i’ve noticed about this upcoming draft is that there are a lot of quality (seniors) o-linemen that will be available, and unless there’s an early “run” on them, there should be good pickings up into the 3rd round…….if we don’t sign a stud o-line FA before the draft, we have no choice but to address it (2 picks) in the first 3 rounds….now without a 2nd, we will have to trade down in the 1st to recoup a 2nd……..and i truly believe that would be a great idea……but we all have to wait and see…..lol.

o-tim……yep, wilfork would have been nice…..but that’s one thing i try to never do……the woulda’s, shoulda’s, and coulda’s…….hindsight is 20/20 bro……there always seem to be hits and misses……and without a crystal ball, everyone is in the same boat……lol.

“”Mobile QBs aren’t taking over the NFL…Who??? Vick is an exception….
Look at the top 4-5 QBs in the league!!!
Brady, Brees, Manning, Rivers…..
These guys aren’t MOBILE QBS!!!”"

By the time that TB, PM, are done the entire league will be full of starting superstar non-pocket passer’s, and TB & PM type’s will be a thing of the past!!
It’s what the the HS & collegiant game’s are teaching,
and what will carry over into the NFL,
or @ the least, pocket passer’s will become even more of an NFL project!!
IMHO!!

Wow!!! Really??? A league full of Vicks??
I really don’t think so….
Yes, they run those “spread offenses” in HS and College…
BECAUSE IT’S EASIER!!!! Doesn’t fly against NFL Defenses!!!
Yes… Their will be exceptions…But this NFL has a strong history of great QBs…. And I don’t see it changing….
Like I said…. I’d take an accurate QB with an arm and vision over a Running, Mobile QB that try to do too much with their legs!!
That’s why we have Running Backs!!!

And I’ll take a QB who has pocket awareness anyday!!
A QB who can make the first guy miss and KEEP HIS EYES DOWNFIELD then to automatically take off and run….
Theirs alot of 260lb LBs looking to knock a guy like that out of a game…(or season)…….(and there’s a difference between scrambling and being mobile)
Just don’t see it happening….
That’s why it’s college football and not the NFL….

At this point, I wouldn’t mind losing this last game if it means a better draft pick…
Maybe we will be in a prime position to trade down and recoup that 2nd round pick….
Then maybe RB Ryan Williams???
Top 3 RBs::::
Ingram, Williams, and Murry….
Out of those 3, Williams looks the fastest on tape… It seems he can hit the edges better then the other 2… Plus others are injury-prone…
Williams will most likely be a late 1st rounder, hopefully where the Phins will trade down to!!!
THEN address C/G in the 2nd round…..
From scout.com list of C’s and G’s….None are worth a 1st rounder!!!

So….. It has to be RB in first!!!!!
(unless Newton or Mallet slips to us, which I highly doubt)

No way would I take a RB in the first round… go find some Peyton Hillis, Arian Foster, Danny Woodhead, Legarrette Blount, Jamaal Charles, Michael Turner etc… The list goes on of guys doing real well who were taken later in the draft.

Runningback is so saturated talent and the player falls apart quicker than any other position. We have bigger priorities at tougher positions with more longevity. (like QB, G, C, a young great ILB to go besides Dansby and learn from him would be nice)

P.s. yes I know people want a Speed WR and Receiving TE… but I think cleaning up the trenches and QB position should take first priority unless someone falls into our laps. Fasano and the WRs are good enough until we fix those major issues.

I also agree. RBs are a dime a dozen and our oline needs some overhaul. TEs are a very weak draft position this year so we have to look FA if we are upgrading. In glad I watched the bowl game last night. No way Id take Stanzi. Gabbert looked pretty good but once again the change from college QBing and the NFL is daunting.

Absolutely Tryptich… KV I gotta go with some of the other posters. The flash in the pan here is Michael Vick… Yeah he’s a unique talent but there have been others somewhat like him in the past, Randle Cunningham comes to mind. The game is too physical and the players are too fast for a QB to run around acting like a running back. The average career expectency is like 3 years for a RB. QBs take 3 years just to start figuring it out… My point is, the QB position is more about using your head and getting the ball to your playmakers not trying to be the whole package, it doesn’t work at this level.

I like Mallet a lot, I don’t know much about this Nevada guy you’ve been talking about, I’ll have a look.

If we want to get the QB problem solved, draft Newton or Locker with the first pick. Stanzi with the 3rd round pick and McElroy with the 4th.
Otherwise give up the entire draft to Carolina for Luck.
Case closed. Build the line thru free agency.
Were desperate aren’t we?

bat,
Mcshay and scouts have gabbert as their no 2 rated QB in the draft. He has a very quick release. I saw that game last night. He looks pretty solid. Strong arm. His release point is high also which I like. I think he’s worth taking with our first pick if he drops to us

Gyz, I’m not insisting on a pure running QB,(you’re misunderstanding me)!!
I’m insisting on a QB that’s not just a pocket passer!!
I still think CH can be succesfull w’a lil help from the entire organization,
but if he isn’t, “”I’ve had my fill of pocket passer’s”" that can’t move a lil-bit while keeping his eye’s downfield in order to extend a play!!

A DBrees, or PRiver’s type is fine w’me,
(pocket passer’s that have enough footwork/mobility),
vision and accuracy on the run out of the pocket to extend play’s !!

I’m also fine w’a scrambling QB that can do the same,
but I’m only insistant on excitement in one form or another from the QB position!!

I do believe that the scrambling type QB will become farrr more prevalent w’in the league, and the “strictly pocket passers” will be fewer and further b/t,
kinda like the way the RB position has become a time-sharing position!!

Kaepernick is one of the most accurate QBs in the collegiant game,
he doesn’t just take-off running under a lil bit of pressure,
he keeps his eye’s downfield & make’s play’s one way or another!!
After CH (who I like alot), I want a multi-talented QB that can make play’s in more than one way, whether it be by land or air!!

I just DON’T WANT a slow one dimensional QB (Mallett) after CH is done!!!
CH could probably run circles around Mallett when under pressure!!

OMAR KELLY was unsuccessful at achieving his childhood dream to become a super hero, so he figured he'd do the next best thing and become a journalist who fights against injustice, and searches for truth. After being bored to death reporting news and covering politics, he switched to sports.
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IZZY GOULD joined the Sun Sentinel in Feb. 2012 as a Senior Sports Reporter on the Miami Dolphins beat. He came to South Florida fresh off covering the University of Alabama football program, including its 2011 national championship team. More